Are the VRAM temperatures reaching 100°C after a repaste? Should I replace it soon?
Are the VRAM temperatures reaching 100°C after a repaste? Should I replace it soon?
Hey everyone,
I’ve been using a Gigabyte RTX 3090 since it came out. I’ve noticed the hotspot temperatures are rising quite a bit (~102°C) during gaming, especially when playing in fullscreen or watching YouTube videos. To fix this, I had the GPU repasted, which lowered the hotspot temps to around 70°C under load – that seems to have helped.
I’ve also been checking the VRAM temperatures with HWInfo64, and they still consistently reach 100°C during more demanding games like MH Wilds. For lighter titles such as Dota 2, the VRAM temps stay in the 70-80°C range, which appears normal.
My mechanic inspected the GPU pads after the repaste and said they were in good shape, and I checked myself too – no visible damage or drying. However, I’ve heard that even high-quality stock pads on 3090s might not have enough thermal conductivity for such heat.
The card hasn’t crashed yet after the repaste, but I did see a black screen once (screen went dark, fans spiked to 100%, but audio stayed on). I’m not sure if that’s directly connected.
So, should I replace the pads or is it okay? And if yes, what would you suggest?
They are well known for being very hot, which is outside the expected range for effective thermal transfer. A possible issue could be the pads on the back and any connection to the backplate (likely aluminum). You might consider swapping the pads or using thermal putty, as I did on my 3080. However, before doing any changes, it would be wise to ensure proper contact on the backplate.
Ensure you obtain the correct thickness when buying replacement thermal pad material.
Thermal pads need to be replaced rather than reused each time the cooler is removed. Once they are compressed, they lose their original shape and contact quality, reducing effectiveness. Some manufacturers produce superior thermal pads, such as Arctic Cooling and Thermal Grizzly. Carbon-based options are considered the best.